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The National Sadness of Sandy Hook
The Huffington Post: It's been almost two years since 20-year-old Adam Lanza walked into the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and gunned down 20 children and six adults, before killing himself. It was one of the deadliest shootings in U.S. history -- the worst ever in an elementary school. In the wake of this unthinkable tragedy, Americans were enveloped in a national sadness. The murders took place on December 14. Psychological theory and common wisdom both say that the intensity of our emotions surrounding Sandy Hook should have diminished by now. But is this true?
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Why do people cry tears of joy and pinch babies’ cheeks? According to science, it may help you calm down.
The Washington Post: Ever see a puppy so cute that you have no idea what to do with yourself? Like, what sort of response am I supposed to have when seeing something like this? Do you want to pinch its cheeks? That's kind of a curious reaction, if you really stop to think about it. I mean, it's a positive emotion that you're feeling; but that response, on its surface, is objectively negative and aggressive. Same with tears of joy (which many musicians have documented in song), or whatever it is that happens while watching videos of soldiers reuniting with their families: It's a happy, ecstatic moment, and yet we (specifically, me) are reduced to a puddle of tears.
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Making Self-Driving Cars More Human May Gain Drivers’ Trust
The most recent iteration of Google’s self-driving car has no gas pedal, brake, or even a steering wheel. All that’s left for the so-called driver to control are two buttons: one to start the car and one for emergency stops. Autonomous vehicles – cars that can control their own steering and speed — are expected by some engineering groups to account for up to 75% of vehicles on the road by 2040. But do people trust robot cars enough to let them take over at the wheel?
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Help Children Form Good Study Habits
The New York Times: When it comes to helping with homework, education and psychology research suggests that it all depends on how parents become involved. What is essential is that parents focus on supporting students’ motivation. Parent help can backfire when it involves providing instruction on homework content. In contrast, parents will support their kids’ school success when they communicate clear expectations and help students develop a homework routine.
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Schon Zweijährige unterliegen dem Gruppenzwang (Even two year olds are subject to peer pressure)
Die Welt: Wenn Kleinkinder auf dem Spielplatz erfolglos versuchen, auf ein hohes Klettergerüst zu kommen, dann haben sie recht schnell eine Idee, wie das Problem zu lösen ist: einfach mal gucken, wie die anderen Kinder das so machen. Imitation spielt beim Lernen eine wichtige Rolle. Wer gut beobachtet und Verhaltensweisen von anderen kopiert, hat bei Herausforderungen oder Problemen mehr Strategien zur Auswahl. Aber wie ist das, wenn das Kind ganz von sich aus eine Lösung gefunden hat, auf das Klettergerüst zu kommen – und dann aber bemerkt, dass andere Kinder es anders machen?
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Study Investigates Why People Cry When They Are Happy
Gizmodo: Ever cried 'tears of joy' when you were really happy? A Yale study has revealed that tears of joy actually help people overcome strong positive emotions and crying allows them to recover from the situation. Psychologist Oriana Aragon at the Yale University in the US said that when people are overwhelmed with strong positive emotions, they tend to cry, which help them to recover from these strong emotions better. She also said that these expressions help people to restore emotional equilibrium. Read the whole story: Gizmodo
